FYI: April 2002 Page 2

Manatee
Life GuardIt’s
not exactly Baywatch, but a new standard for protecting manatees is calling
for a new kind of lifeguard.

After last year’s
Offshore Worlds powerboat race in Key West, Florida, many boaters were
concerned that not enough was being done to prevent manatees from wandering
into the race course and endangering their own lives as well as those
of boaters.

Now, as the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service and the American Power Boat Association (APBA) weigh
new standards to protect the sea cows, all powerboat races will be required
to post a "manatee watch" person, who monitors the waters throughout
the event from a helicopter. If the watchperson spots a manatee anywhere
near the track, the race will be delayed until the course is declared
clear.

While plans for additional
manatee lifeguards are being discussed, the APBA says the current watch
program not only ensures manatee protection, but also allows for a safer
racing environment without adversely affecting the race.

Headed to Court?You may recall
that in last month’s "Lead Line" editor-in-chief Richard
Thiel revealed that The Hinckley Company had warned a number of
companies to stop building boats that it felt looked too much like its
Picnic Boat line. Since then Hinckley has filed suit against eight builders
and dealers who it contends are violating "trade dress," by
building boats that look so much like Hinckleys they confuse consumers.
The eight are Alliance Marine, for the Italian-built Daytripper
40; Annapolis Sail Yard, LazMar International, Monaco
Marine Group, and WellFound Yachts, for the Turkish-built Vicem
50; Belkov Yacht Company, builder of the Belkov Express; San
Juan Composites, builder of the San Juan 38 and 48; and Capitol
Yacht Sales, for the Australian-built Avalon 38 (sold in Australia
as the Palm Beach 38). Donald Campbell of San Juan Composites told Soundings
Trade Only, "We completely disagree with [Hinckley’s] allegations
and are vigorously defending ourselves" and contends that Hinckley
is simply trying to "eliminate competition." No court date had
been set at presstime.

Lack
MichiganWith water
levels at their lowest in 35 years, Lake Michigan is starting to be hazardous
to the local boating industry’s health.

This year’s dry,
mild winter has quickened the decline of the water level, which since
1997 has dropped some 40 inches. At presstime, levels were already more
than 13 inches below the yearly average. As the lake shrinks, the height
of fixed docks increases and some boat ramps become inaccessible. Moreover,
sandbars get larger and overall depth is reduced, creating hazards to
navigation.

Normally at this time
of year, the lake gets a water boost from the winter thaw. Compounding
the lack of snow, temperatures stayed well above their normal levels this
winter, and almost no ice formed on the lake. Usually 60 to 70 percent
of Lake Michigan is covered in ice during the winter, a phenomenon that
prevents water from evaporating, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

New YorktownIn a move
to draw more boaters–and their wallets–to Yorktown, Virginia,
local legislators are planning a major waterfront renovation plan that
could bring 150 new jobs and $3 million annually to the area.

The Yorktown Harbor
project, which at presstime had not yet been approved by voters, is a
$20-million effort to attract a flock of new businesses and tourists.
With federal funding a proposed dock would extend about 350 feet from
the shore and accommodate anywhere from 40 to 50 boats. (Maximum boat
size has yet to be determined.)

Once the dock is built,
county leaders say they will introduce generous incentives to attract
coastal cruisers, including one proposal that offers boaters free dockage
for up to 10 days.